GOD IS COMING
Get ready!
RECENTLY, while speaking to a preacher friend, he asked me what I thought lay ahead for the Church and nation. I had no option but to reiterate that which I have preached and written about over and over: the Elijah revival. It is not just a conviction with me; every second of every day it consumes my thinking, my praying, my preaching. Many years ago, when I first stepped out into a faith ministry, I asked the Lord to show me things to come. He showed me in a vision the north part of Scotland ablaze with fires of glory, and those fires sweeping down the east coast of Britain, flashing inland and bathing the nation in a glory which consumes all before it. Since then, I have not been able to take a breath without this vision impacting every part of my spirit, soul and body. I cannot run from it or deny it. I have been places in God and in the pits of hell since I first saw this vision but nothing can expunge it from me. This will happen! I say so in the Name of the Risen Christ and by the Holy Spirit of the Living God.
Now some of you will recognise this vision as being one similar to that shared by others; indeed my preacher friend also has had this vision. The most famous account of this is the vision by Jean Darnall, recounted in her own biography, and Pastor Hugh Black’s Revival series. I am not trying to build credibility for this vision by saying how many have had it; whether you believe it or not matters nothing to me. But I know that most of my readers are those who desire God to do something in this generation, which will forever change our world. I know that to some, the event which will do this is the Second Coming. In other words, that Coming to some of my readers is imminent. But I am more concerned with the immanence of God than the imminence of the Second Advent. Yes, God is coming. But not necessarily in the physical appearance of the Son of God. He is coming in reviving, reforming glory.
“Oh, more postmillennialism,” some will say. And I have to answer YES. Yes, more postmilliennialism. But I have no interest in debating eschatology with those looking to the skies or burning with Rapture fever, I am only interested in one thing…. God coming to me now. Changing me, my family, my community, my nation. I want to see this nation I love so much drenched – no, engulfed in God. I couldn’t care less about when Jesus is returning in corporal form, I just want Him to be glorified in this realm.
Now, I told my preacher friend that I believed this vision is God’s answer to the Blairs and Bushes of this world, and their redundant political ideologies. And I want to make it clear to you: He is coming to take over. This nation doesn’t belong to Tony Ahab Blair or to New Labour, Old Tory, or any other Christ-rejecting organisation. This is God’s nation. People get ready! He is coming to rule. This is the secret of God. What God is going to do in these days, some of you could hardly bear to contain the glory of it. I am not talking about “great meetings” or “new waves” in church. I am talking about God coming down, inhabiting His people. I am talking about Almighty God stepping into the 3D realm and opening up the glory realm. To see what God is doing, you have to step OUT of church. The Kingdom is not the Church. If all you see is church, you only see a small part of who God is, and what He is doing. I don’t want to be like Moses, peeking at a bit of God’s backend. I want to jump out and be consumed in His glory, don’t you? “But you’ll die,” someone might say. Good and well, I reply. I am happy for all that flesh to be burned up. There is no place for flesh in this coming reconstruction.
Over the years, the Lord has added to my understanding of this vision. I believe it to be the Elijah revival, resulting in the complete annihilation of Babylon, and the ushering in of the Age of the Gospel. In her vision, Jean Darnall saw the fires of glory shoot over into the continent of Europe. I believe this signifies the destruction of the European Union. Listen, I want to say this to those fearful of the Babylonian system of the EU: when God shows up, this “monster” state of the Beast will be crushed like a bug. Compared to the Holy and Living One, the EU is nothing, not so much as a wisp of wind. On God’s scale, the EU hardly registers. Where is ancient Babylon, once the scourge of the east? Where is mighty Greece, conquering all before it? Where is awesome Rome Imperial, which held the world in its iron fist? The nations are a drop in the bucket to Him who holds the universe in the palm of His hand.
God is surely coming. And He is coming with worldwide revival. He is coming to raise the Throne of David high over all the nations. He is coming to obliterate every foe. Kings and queens will bow before His people in that day, and the enemies shall lick the dust. “Utopia and triumphalism,” some might say. Again, YES. Yes, because I believe His Word. I don’t believe the BBC News, or the Daily Mirror, or CNN, or New Labour spin. I believe God’s Word. Every man is a liar but God is true. He is the up-to-date news channel because He tells of things to come. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, or even what happens between now and then. We come out on top. We inherit the earth. We win. We rule. We triumph.
But I have to say this: it is incumbent upon me to do my part in making this vision a reality. Yes, I want it in my lifetime but if all I achieve is to pass on the baton of my vision, then that is my part to play. But my life’s blood is bound up in this vision. To see the glory of God engulf this nation is the very purpose of my life. No matter how prominent or insignificant you see yourself, dear reader, it ought to be YOUR purpose, too.
I am not going to spend my life looking to the horizon, waiting for Jesus to return. But I am looking with expectancy and faith for the Lord God of Israel to rend the heavens and come down, invade my community, engulf my nation and fill the whole world full of His glory. And I tell you most solemnly – it shall come to pass! … God is coming. Get ready.
With acknowledgments to the PREACHER Newsletter October-December 2003
